How could you possibly know this?

THIS Sunday Blog is about the book/movie Project Hail Mary. If you did not yet see the movie or read the book (or listen to the book) you might want to find an exit now.

In Andy Weir's novel Project Hail Mary (and its film adaptation), Ryland Grace is not a trained astronaut at the start. He's a former molecular biologist who became a middle-school science teacher. He gets pulled into the project because of his unique expertise on astrophage (the alien microbe threatening Earth's sun), based on his earlier controversial academic work about life not necessarily needing water.

Eva Stratt, the no-nonsense director of the international effort, recruits him early on. Over time, as the mission develops, Grace becomes deeply involved in planning and preparation for the Hail Mary spacecraft. He helps design experiments, trains the actual selected crew (the primary science specialist and backup) on the astrophage science they'll need, and participates hands-on in many aspects of the project.

Key reasons he knows the "astronaut training" procedures

Stratt plans for every contingency, including the possibility that something could go wrong with the primary crew. Grace effectively serves as a tertiary (third) backup science specialist all along, even though he has no intention of going on the one-way mission himself.

Because of this, he undergoes a lot of the same rigorous preparation and testing that the astronauts do:

• He participates in simulations.
• He tests equipment (including EVA/spacewalk suits and tools—he even acts as a guinea pig for some of those tests).
• He gets familiar with ship systems, procedures, zero-g operations, and other mission-critical skills under the guise of supporting the team or verifying the science setup.

This isn't full pilot or engineer training from day one, but it's enough exposure that, when the primary and backup science officers die in a lab explosion shortly before launch, Grace is the only person alive with both the deep astrophage knowledge and enough practical familiarity with the hardware and protocols to have a chance at succeeding. Stratt forces him aboard anyway (against his explicit refusal), sedates him, and launches the ship.

In the story's present-day timeline (aboard the ship), Grace wakes from a long coma with amnesia. As his memories return through flashbacks, he pieces together his involvement and applies that accumulated knowledge to operate the spacecraft, perform EVAs, troubleshoot systems, and improvise solutions. His scientific mindset and prior hands-on exposure fill in the gaps. He's not magically an expert pilot, but the preparation he received (plus the ship's automation and his own ingenuity) lets him manage.

The book emphasizes this more explicitly than the movie in some spots: Stratt had been subtly ensuring he was 'as prepared as possible' because she always viewed him as a potential fallback. It's a classic Weir-style "competence through preparation and problem-solving" detail that makes Grace's solo survival plausible without turning him into a superhuman astronaut overnight.

So my wife and I enjoyed the movie. And I downloaded the book on Audible. (I highly recommend you do both). But on the drive home last night we talked about how Ryland Grace knew all of the Astronaut stuff - he was never trained! We could not stop thinking about this 'flaw' in the movie. So, this morning I did the Ryland Grace thing myself: I asked Grok and Gemini and a few of my other AI friends to help me to solve the riddle. 

HERE IS THE POINT...

In the book, they do indeed go into much deeper detail as to how and why Ryland Grace was able to perform all of his Astronaut duties. In the movie, right up to the point he is forced aboard under an induced coma he keeps saying "I'm not an Astronaut! I was never trained! I don't know anything about anything!" A book on Audible with 16 hours of conversation would always have more detail than a 2 1/2 hour long movie, right? Ah so. Mystery solved. 

Happy Ending: Ryland Grace figured it out. As they say over and over again: You are smart. You will figure it out. 

Is there any better example of 'Distance Learning' than Project Hail Mary? Hmmm, maybe. 

Once again, welcome home to the crew of Artemis II. 

www.joinNYDLA.org

One of these days, Alice.....

 If reading on a smartphone hold phone in landscape mode (sideways) 

Thes iconic line was the catchphrase of Ralph Kramden (played by Jackie Gleason) on the 1950s sitcom The Honeymooners. Usually delivered in a fit of comical frustration, Ralph would shake his fist at his wife, Alice (Audrey Meadows), and follow up with his other famous threat: "Bang, zoom, straight to the moon!". 

Quick Facts About the Quote:

The Intent: Despite the aggressive language, the threats were always empty. Alice was never intimidated and usually shut Ralph down with a sarcastic retort or a simple "Ah, shaddap".

The Resolution: Most episodes ended with Ralph realizing his mistakes and telling Alice, "Baby, you're the greatest".

Pop Culture Legacy: The line has been parodied and referenced for decades in shows like The Flintstones (which was heavily inspired by the series), Family Guy, and Futurama. 

Now I was born in 1960. So I grew up during the 'Space Race' and the Apollo missions. My big 'TV Shows' growing up were Gunsmoke, Bonanza, Star Trek, Mission Impossible. John Wayne was the big Movie Star, (1907–1979) an iconic American actor, director, and producer known as the definitive cowboy and war hero of Hollywood's Golden Age. Famous for his distinctive voice, towering presence, and roles in classics like Stagecoach, The Searchers, and True Grit - the latter winning him an Academy Award. John Wayne came to represent American rugged masculinity and conservative patriotism. 

The first interracial kiss on American network television occurred in the Star Trek episode "Plato's Stepchildren," aired on November 22, 1968, between Captain Kirk (William Shatner) and Lieutenant Uhura (Nichelle Nichols). The scene was driven by a storyline where telekinetic aliens forced the kiss, rather than it being a voluntary romance. 

Key Details of the Landmark Moment:

Cultural Significance: The kiss occurred just over a year after the US Supreme Court's 1967 Loving v. Virginia decision that deemed laws against interracial marriage unconstitutional.

Production Concerns: NBC executives feared backlash from Southern television stations and originally asked for a version without physical contact, but the actors intentionally ruined the "no-touch" takes.

Reception: Contrary to fears of massive protests, the episode aired without significant public backlash and actually garnered mostly positive fan mail, becoming a celebrated moment in TV history.

I write this Sunday Blog in April of 2026. And we have just welcomed the crew of Artemis II back home to Planet Earth. I just learned that Artemis and Apollo are the divine twins of Greek mythology, the children of Zeus and the Titaness Leto. Their relationship is defined by a deep familial bond, shared interests, and a duality that represents the balance between opposing forces like the sun and the moon. 

Opposing forces. War and Peace. Superstition is the opposite of Science. Good vs. Evil. Freedom vs. Enslavement. 

At 4:30 a.m. on April 12, 1861, Confederate troops fired on Fort Sumter in South Carolina's Charleston Harbor. Less than 34 hours later, Union forces surrendered. Traditionally, this event has been used to mark the beginning of the Civil War.

165 years ago today. 

On February 4, 1861, representatives from six states met in Montgomery, Alabama, and officially established the Confederate States of America. On February 9, Mississippi Senator Jefferson Davis was elected president. Delaware, Kentucky, Maryland, and Missouri, all slave states, did not join the Confederacy. 

Those four states made a decision that changed the history of our country. And the world.

The Artemis II crew consisted of four astronauts who flew around the Moon: NASA Commander Reid Wiseman, NASA Pilot Victor Glover, NASA Mission Specialist Christina Hammock Koch, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) Mission Specialist Jeremy Hansen. They are the first crewed mission to return to the Moon's vicinity. Google them. Research their backgrounds. What did they learn growing up? 

I write this Sunday Blog reflecting on everything that I learned, everything that I was taught growing up in the USA. Everything that influenced me from 1960 to 2026. Watching the Vietnam War on TV. Going to John Wayne movies with my Dad. The promise of a future in space, via Star Trek. Very popular TV shows that joked about striking a woman. I grew up in Cedar Grove, NJ just a few miles from Newark riots (July 12th to July 17th 1967). 

For me, someone born in the 60s NASA will always give me hope. Of what is possible. Not just for the USA but for all of us. 

For humanity. 

Find the GOLDEN Easter Eggs

If you are reading on a Smartphone, hold phone sideways (landscape) 

We had our first Family Easter Egg hunt yesterday in Connecticut. 

An Easter egg hunt is a fun, traditional activity (usually for children) where people search for hidden decorated eggs - either real hard-boiled eggs that have been dyed and painted, or plastic eggs filled with candy, small toys, or treats.

How an Easter egg hunt typically works:

Setup: An adult or organizer hides the eggs in a yard, park, house, or designated area. They might place them in easy-to-find spots for younger kids or more challenging locations for older ones.

The hunt: Kids (and sometimes adults) are given baskets or bags and then released to search for and collect as many eggs as possible within a time limit or until all eggs are found.

Rules: Common rules include no pushing, one egg per person at a time, or age-group divisions so younger children aren't outcompeted by older ones.

After the hunt: Everyone gathers to open the eggs, count their haul, and enjoy the goodies inside. Sometimes there are special "golden" or prize eggs that win bigger rewards.

Why it's called an "Easter egg hunt"

It’s tied to the Christian celebration of Easter (commemorating the resurrection of Jesus), but the egg-hunting custom has older pagan roots symbolizing spring, fertility, and new life. Eggs were decorated and given as gifts long before Christianity adopted the symbol. Today, it's mostly a secular family-friendly spring activity in many countries, especially the United States, even for non-religious families.

All are welcome to hunt for Easter Eggs. 

"Look Up to find the Golden Egg"

Yesterday in Connecticut there were around 25 eggs in total, but there was one very special egg - The Golden Egg. It took a few laps around the yard for the kids the find that one. We had to give hints, reminding them to 'look up' as Easter Eggs might not be only on the ground. Easter Eggs might be hiding in plain sight - anywhere. Above the ground. Above the earth. 

Artemis II is NASA's first crewed mission in the Artemis program, sending four astronauts on a roughly 10-day journey around the Moon and back to Earth - the first time humans have traveled beyond low Earth orbit since the Apollo 17 mission in 1972. It launched on April 1, 2026, at 6:35 p.m. EDT from Launch Pad 39B at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, atop the powerful Space Launch System (SLS) rocket with the Orion spacecraft (named Integrity for this flight) carrying the crew.

Mission Objectives

Artemis II serves as a critical test flight. It demonstrates that the SLS rocket, Orion spacecraft, and associated systems (including life support, navigation, communication, and re-entry) can safely carry humans into deep space. The crew will not land on the Moon; instead, they perform a lunar flyby (a "free-return trajectory"), looping around the far side of the Moon before returning home. This builds on the uncrewed Artemis I test in 2022 and paves the way for future moon landings (starting with Artemis III) and eventual long-term lunar presence (base) on the moon, plus future missions to Mars.

Key activities include:

• Testing Orion's systems with a real crew aboard.
• Conducting maneuvers, such as the translunar injection burn (completed successfully shortly after launch).
• Gathering data on human health and performance in deep space.
• Capturing views and photos of Earth and the Moon (including the far side).

The mission is on track as of this Easter Sunday Blog April 5, 2026, with the crew having left Earth orbit, performed the key burn toward the Moon, and reported positive spirits while observing unique views of Earth and approaching the lunar far side.

Broader Context: The Artemis Program

Artemis aims to return humans to the Moon sustainably - this time including women and international partners. The plan is to establish a lunar base (with the Gateway station), and use it as a stepping stone for Mars exploration. It involves collaboration with ESA (European Space Agency, which provides Orion's service module), Canada, Japan, and others.

As of this morning (April 5, 2026), the mission is progressing well in its early days, with live views and updates available right here from NASA. It's a major milestone in humanity's return to deep space exploration.

This is my first Easter Sunday with my grandsons. Born in 1960 I was 9 when Man first landed on the moon. There have been six manned U.S. moon landings (Apollo 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, and 17) between 1969 and 1972, with 12 astronauts walking on the surface. Over 100 robotic spacecraft from various nations have also visited the moon, with over 25 successful soft landings by robotic probes. 

It's 2026 and we live in the age of AI, drones, telemedicine, self-driving cars, and high-speed GLOBAL satellite Internet reaching everyone, anywhere in the world. I remember the feeling of hope and the excitement of living during the Apollo missions. We all had hopes and visions of a future world that will help everyone living anywhere all with a lifetime of peace. An end to all wars. Education for all, healthcare for all, food for everyone. Quality of Life. Technology being shared and used for all mankind. 

"That's one small step for [a] man, one giant leap for mankind" is the historic phrase spoken by Neil Armstrong upon becoming the first human to walk on the Moon on July 20, 1969. While commonly heard without the "a," Armstrong intended to say "a man," which would differentiate "man" (individual) from "mankind" (humanity). 

I remember watching Star Trek with my Dad in our Cedar Grove, NJ living room in 1966. He loved watching Star Trek as much as he loved TV Westerns. And if my Dad loved something, so did I. My first memory of an Easter Egg hunt was when I was 5 years old. That was 60 years ago. Ah yes, Easter Egg Hunting symbolizing spring, fertility, and new life. Maybe the Artemis II can be a Golden Egg for all of us. For my three grandsons. And for your grandchildren, too. 

"Everyone: Look Up to find the Golden Eggs for Mankind. Look UP!"

From the Artemis II - Earth from Orion Capsule